Watchcase bezel



"New 17,1925. 1,561,879

C. E. MILLER rWATCHCASE BEZEL Filed Aug. 21, 1924 gnwmhz Patented Nov. 17, 1925.

Unirse srnrss earner CHARLES E. MILLER, 0F EDGEOOD, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNORTO EAYTON t KELLEY co., or PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND; e soar-ontarien os fer-ross ISLAND.

WATCHCASE BEZEL.

Application led August 2li, 1924. Serial No. 733,307.

lie it known that l, (linnen-:s E. Mumien. a citizen of the United States, residing at lldgeivood. in the county of Providence and State of l.lihode Island, have invented certain neu' and useful improvements in latchcase Bezels, of which the following` is al specification.

T his invention relates to an improved construction of Watch case bezels; and has -for its object to provide a bezel rim having an inturned flange against which a crystal is seat-ed and the provision of locking members on the flange for firmly pressing the lens against its seat and securing it in po sition in its frame. I "With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described and particularly `pointed out in the appended claims.

ln the accompanyingl drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective vieuv showing one form of Watch to which my improved bezel member is connected.

Figure 2 is a perspective vieu' showing the inner portion of the bezel rim and the crystal locking members therein.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of thev bezel 'traine which fits into the rim and over the lens to support the lens when seated on its flange.

Figure is is a sectional elevation illustrating the frame as engaging the edge of the crystal and showing the locking lugs or pins extending through openings in the frame.

Figure 5 is an enlarged vien7 showing the pins or lugs as folded, bent or riveted over the edge of the frame member to force the crystal against its seat.

Figure 6 is a fragmental sec-tional elevau tion showing another form of locking member which is adapted to be rotated to bring its head portion over the frame to lock the crystal against its seat.

It is found in Wat-ches which have their crystals snapped into their bezels from the outside thereof, that very often their crystais become loosened and snap out of position and so become broken to the greatannoyance of the users. To obviate this difficulty, l have formed a bezel rim With inturned flanges against which the crystal is seated from, the inside of the rim and have providedlocking means on the rim, Which are adapted to be. bent, rotated or otherwise moved into position over a Y bezel frame which extends about the seated portion of the crystal to force the crystal to its seat and so exclude dust, nioisture, and other foreign matter and at the same time positively prevent the crystali from becoming` loosened and dropping out of its frame; and the following is a detailed description of.' the present embodiment of my invent-ion showing one means by Vwhich these advan tageous results may be accomplished With reference to the drawing, l0 designates the bezel rim member of my improved construction Which corresponds in outline to the. shape of a Watch and which is provided on its outer edge with an inturned rim 11 of a Width sufliciently broad to form aseat at 12 for the edge of a crystal 13. The inner surface of `this flange is herein shown as being provided with a set of inwardlyextending bendable lugs 11i for the purpose present-ly described.

ln order to support the edge of the crys tal and be able to press it firmly against its seat all around, I have provided a bezel frame 15 the outline of which ispreferably that of the rim, and the center portion of Which frame is provided With an opening, the shape of Which is the same as the opening through the inturned flange of the rim. I have also herein shoivn slots 16 through this frame, which correspond in shape, size and number to the lugs or pins 1li in the rim whereby upon assembling the parts the crystal is first placed in position against the inner surface of the rim, the frame is next placed upon the edge of the crystal and the pins or lugs are then turned over as at 17 to rivet or lock the crystal firmly against its seat in the rim thereby positively preventing the crystal from falling out and becoming broken and also by its close fitting joint it excludes foreign matter from the Works of the Watch.

In some instances, instead of soldering these lugs 14 to the inner face of the rim flange, I may set a catch member 18, one form of vwhich is shown in Figure 6, which is adapted to be swung over the bezel frame to engage the frame and so force the crystal to its seat on the rim and by this construction Whenever it is desired to replace the crystal it is only necessary to swing this head 19 back from engagement with its 'frame to release the frame and crystal.

My improved bezel is very inexpensive to construct and is eflective in its operation and by its use the crystal is firmly locked in position in the bezel rim and yet may be removed when desired. Y

The foregoing description is directed solely towards the construction illustrated, but I desire it to be understood that I reserve the privilege of resorting to. all the mechanical changes to which the device is susceptible, the invention being defined and limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a Watch casing, a bezel-rim having an inturned flange about its outer edge, a crystal in said rim seated. against the inner face of said flange, a bezel-frame seated about the edge of the crystal, and a set of bendable fingers on said flange adapted to be bent over into engagement with said frame and bind the crystal. edge against said flange.

2. In a watch casing, a bezel-rim having an inturned flange about its outer edge, a crystal in said rim seated against the inner face of said ange, a bezel frame seated about the edge of the crystal, and a set of bendable lugs fixed to the inner face of said flange to extend through corresponding openings in said frame and adapted to be bent thereover to bind and lock the crystal against the frame adjacent its flange.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

CHARLES E. MILLER. 

